Questions to consider...

• Is Alberta’s economy diversified?

• Why bother?

• Diversity by export market?

• Can diversity be “created”?

• Do we need to move up value-add?

Why diversify?

Diversify for diversity’s sake?

FEDERAL

Department of Regional Economic Expansion (DREE) – 1969

Department of Regional Industrial Expansion (DRIE)

1987

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

• Western Economic Diversification Canada (WEDC)

• Federal Economic Development Northern Ontario (FEDNOR)

ALBERTA

- programs for direct ownership of industry (1970s and 1980s)

- Proposals for an Industrial and Science Strategy for Alberta 1985 to

1990

- The Alberta Advantage in the 2000s

- ???

Can Government Policy Induce Diversity?

Moving up the Value Chain

Summary: Chasing the Holy Grail?

1. worth it, but not easy

2. Alberta more diversified

within its energy resources

3. gov’t efforts have been

underwhelming

4. non-market sectors and

design-oriented industries

offer promise